Medical Instrumentation module (BE22001)

This module will give you a hands-on introduction to the tools, systems, and principles used in modern medical devices.

You’ll learn how physiological signals like heart activity, blood pressure, or muscle movement can be measured and processed. You will also learn how they are used in clinical decision-making.

The module will bridge your knowledge of physics, electronics, and anatomy with real-world biomedical engineering applications.

Through weekly seminars and lab sessions, you’ll explore how instruments work, what makes them reliable and safe, and how they interact with both patients and healthcare environments.

You’ll examine signal types, sensor design, measurement accuracy, and noise, as well as human and regulatory factors that influence medical device use.

In the lab, you’ll follow a structured path from guided experiments using Arduino-based systems to a team project where you prototype a prosthetic device.

You’ll build experience working with real data, real sensors, and real technical constraints.

This isn’t just about the theory, it’s about designing and evaluating working solutions that reflect what’s needed in clinical practice.

Your practical sessions are backed by weekly drop-ins, which let you ask questions and get feedback as you go.

The module closes with a demonstration of your group project and a report that captures your design process and results.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• explore key principles behind how medical instruments work and why they're essential in healthcare
• study signals, sensors, amplification, filtering, and measurement accuracy
• learn through seminars, lab sessions, and structured drop-ins with ongoing guidance
• build a prosthetic device in a group project and present your findings
• reflect on reliability, patient safety, ethics, and regulation in medical device design

By the end of the module, you’ll be able to:

• explain how physiological signals are measured and used in biomedical engineering
• select and apply sensors and signal processing methods for a practical task
• communicate your design ideas and experimental results clearly
• show confidence working with instrumentation in both lab and project settings
• apply your skills to further study or projects in medical device development

Assignments / assessment

• coursework (40%)
  • This will consist of a technical report on medical device design and performance
• exam (40%)
  • This will comprise a written assessment covering fundamental concepts and applications
• practical assessment (20%)
  • You will take part in a hands-on evaluation of medical instrumentation

Teaching methods / timetable

• lectures
  • these will cover the foundational concepts and industry applications
• laboratory sessions
  • You will engage in practical work with biomedical sensors and instruments
• case studies
  • These will cover analysis of real-world medical device applications.
• guest lectures
  • These will allow you to gain insights from medical technology professionals
• group projects
  • You will be able to engage in collaborative design. You will also engage in evaluation of medical instruments